Midwife Prog Werribee mercy

[Tina81]

Hi all, new to Melboure and I'm 5 weeks Preg and this is going to be my first baby. I live in the west and was hoping to get into the Werribee Mercy Midwife Prog (have read highly about them in forums). Can anybody please advise me how to go about it? I've got Private Health cover which may cover for a private room. I've jus had a one appointment with the GP who asked me to get some blood tests done but didn't refer any Obs.. not sure if it is too soon?
Since the midwives program gets filled up too soo Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

[mummieof4]

hi ive seen dr garra for all of my pregnacies. he runs a midwife program and i cant speak highly enough of them. they are all fantatic. hope that helps and good luck

[Tina81]

@Mummieof4: Thanks so much for your reply. I have got thru doc Sol Sahhar, hoping he is good. Do you have any clue abt him? Thanks!

[mummieof4]

hi tina dr sahhar is fantastic. doesnt do midwife program though. i have seen him for fertility probs and when i miscarried and also when i had to have a c section. cant speak highly enough about him. after my c for breech birth he was telling my hubby as they scrubbed up exactly how bub was sitting and exactly what happened and after my miscarriage he was so apologetic for our loss. lovely dr. he delivered my niece who is now 25 so hes been in the business a long long time. good luck with it all let me now how you go

[overitand36]

i have been to Werribee years ago

why no earth would you want to go their if you have private insurance
you have insurance use it so many better options and private hospitals

[amyo]

You have to pay if you use your insurance whereas werribee is free. I had my ds there and thought it was great will be having this bubba there too. To get into midwife program you just ring and tell them you want to do it that way and then make an appointment with them. You also need a refferal from gp. The dr that works with the midwives is Jackie van dam so your refferal will be to see her.

[overitand36]

Yes of course but the excess is nothing compared to the premiums but the OB management fees that could be a good reason

with Werribee you still have ob fees??

[amyo]

Yeah that was very expensive but I'm not sure how it works going through the midwife program as u don't see an ob for your appts..just the first one.

[overitand36]

what about the birth

how much are management fees why paying if seeing midwives

our out of pocket was about $4k but so worth it my new c/s scan is so much better than my old one done at Werribee for that matter so was everything else hence why I am saying shop around

[TimTamsandTea]

@Mummieof4: Thanks so much for your reply. I have got thru doc Sol Sahhar, hoping he is good. Do you have any clue abt him? Thanks!

Sol delivered my son and I am currently under him for my second child. I have been exceptionally happy with him to date. As far as I'm concerned, you are in great hands.

[Tina81]

Thanks everyone! We had inquired about Jackie van dam when I was only 5 weeks Preg but she was booked out even then. I got through Dr John How as a private patient but his management fees was 4k which wasn't entirely covered by my insurance. Luckily I got through Dr Sol Sahar, the other two obstetricians Dr Stephen doesn't take first bubs and I haven't heard the best of thgs for Dr Callandra

[Tina81]

@mummieof4 : Sorry to hear about your miscarriage but for Dr Sahhar seems like I am in good hands. I will let you know how I go. Many Thanks!

[overitand36]

management fees are not covered by any insurance

and as far as Callandar he is a case of you get what you pay for and for him its free

[mummieof4]

i saw dr callandra once and walked out in tears! not saying anything else. stick with dr sahhar or dr garra. best choices. dr how gave my friend a c cause she was 2 days over and he said she was having a big baby turned out that she was only 7lb 2. smaller than her other 2 and because of her c she cant have any more kids cause she had a major blood vessel going upwards so cut had to go up as well and they have advised her against having anymore as she may die from it. shes not happy. but these things happen i guess

[overitand36]

but these things happen i guess

and at werribee more likely not just in maternity but emergency dept is hopeless also

[mummieof4]

i have always found maternity there fantastic. quite upset this time around with no 5 though cause i cant go there cause im over their bmi limit now by 2 points. your right though emergency is crap. i was taken in by ambulance when i miscarried i was bleeding on the sheets of there trolley but i was still taken to the waiting rooms and got told i could watch the commonwealt games so i had something to do while i waited cause apparently knowing your loosing your baby isnt enough to do! i was left there for 4 hours and it was only when i went to the toilet in agony and gushed blood everywhere all over the toilet and toilet floor that they actually got me in to see the dr when they said oh you are bleeding a bit arent you and gave me a panty liner to put on! a most degrading experience that i still havent got over 4 years later even with counselling. urns out that i had bleed so much that when i went in for a currette i needed to have a transfusion also. im sure that if i was bleeding that much out of a wound they could see i would have got in straight away. hubby even went down to maternity to get maternity pads for me as they had nothing to cater for it in emergency and they werent gonna get anything. def not a nice experience there.
as i said though. fantastic in maternity love it. emergency stay away!

[overitand36]

yep thats werribee and knowing that I will be told off for this comment but really I don't care

stay away from the place DH is a nurse and we both say if anything is actually wrong with us drive us to the top of the bridge (westgate) then call a ambo we will then be taken to a real hospital

[Brooklynne]

I delivered my first baby at Geelong Hosp a couple of years ago but we now live in Tarneit so I'm going to be going to Mercy for this one. This thread has not exactly filled me with confidence! I don't have any health insurance so will be going full public.

[mummieof4]

hi brooklynne. dont stress too much. myself and friends have all had fantastic experiences at maternity at werribee. so upset i cant go back for this bub cause of bmi limits. im just over and desperately trying to loose those extra couple of kgs so i can go back there as i look at them as my baby family. the midwifes were always fantastic with myself and my friends and we have all had fantastic birthing experiences there. only one i can complain aout is my c section only because i so wanted a natural but because of breech position i was told safer to go c section. but all my atural births and i have had 3 had all been fantastic there and i wouldnt trade it for the world. as i said the midwifes were all fantastic to myself and friends in maternithy its just the emergency that isnt the greatest. but that happens in all public hospitals i guess. good luck having your new little addition. when are you due??

[my*lil*munchkin]

Dr Sahhar delievered my son at Werribee Mercy via c sect in Jan last year. He was a lovely ob, and the hospital staff were fantastic! :yes:

I had DS the Thursday morning, was supposed to go home Sunday, but he had lost too much weight. They encouraged me to stay an extra night & were in no rush for me to go home. I was so grateful for the extra night! Monday morning he was almost back at birth weight so we were able to go home :smiliedance:
Definately no complaints here (other than 1 cranky night nurse, but you get that at any hospital :laughing:)

I'd go back to Werribee in a heartbeat!

[overitand36]

(other than 1 cranky night nurse, but you get that at any hospital :laughing:)!

Agree with you about that its called sleep deprivation night shift sucks

[MissPoss]

I delivered my first baby at Geelong Hosp a couple of years ago but we now live in Tarneit so I'm going to be going to Mercy for this one. This thread has not exactly filled me with confidence! I don't have any health insurance so will be going full public.

I too am in Tarneit. I had DD2 at Werribee Mercy in 2009 and honestly couldn't fault them. I had a wonderful experiece, even though I was scared as I was 36 weeks, had pre-eclampsia and had to be induced. Bub got stuck at one stage and the OB was stuck in traffic :eek:. The midwives did an awesome job of keeping me calm, they even managed to shift bub and help her through and she was delivered safely before the OB got there :cheerleader2:. Even the rooms were fantastic, better than what my SIL had on private.

I can't go to Werribee Mercy next time (I'm now high risk), and am quite sad about that. Good luck on the birth of your bub :goodvibes: hope your experience wit WM is as good as mine was.

[Woody1982]

Hi, just wondering if anyone knows what the cut-off bmi is to give birth at werribee mercy?

[mum of 3]

hi im not sure about bmi but i have heard they wont take people over 110kg starting weight ,

[Mollyplus1]

i have always found maternity there fantastic. quite upset this time around with no 5 though cause i cant go there cause im over their bmi limit now by 2 points. your right though emergency is crap. i was taken in by ambulance when i miscarried i was bleeding on the sheets of there trolley but i was still taken to the waiting rooms and got told i could watch the commonwealt games so i had something to do while i waited cause apparently knowing your loosing your baby isnt enough to do! i was left there for 4 hours and it was only when i went to the toilet in agony and gushed blood everywhere all over the toilet and toilet floor that they actually got me in to see the dr when they said oh you are bleeding a bit arent you and gave me a panty liner to put on! a most degrading experience that i still havent got over 4 years later even with counselling. urns out that i had bleed so much that when i went in for a currette i needed to have a transfusion also. im sure that if i was bleeding that much out of a wound they could see i would have got in straight away. hubby even went down to maternity to get maternity pads for me as they had nothing to cater for it in emergency and they werent gonna get anything. def not a nice experience there.
as i said though. fantastic in maternity love it. emergency stay away!

What is the BMI cut off now? Im trying to book in for my next baby and this has me a little concerned ... Thanks!